by G. K. Scott
Emma didn’t get a chance to move as Marcus grabbed her pulling her in a rip-cracking hug. He grinned squeezing tighter. “I’m so glad Eddy Ida was there to help you out, he helped us no end.” Lucy folded her arms seeing that Emma was starting to squirm in his tight grip. “Marcus do you want to stop her lungs from working?” Marcus pulled back freeing Emma from his grip. “Sorry didn’t mean to crush you.” Emma breathed in sharply feeling the air start to move through her lungs again. “It’s okay I’m fine really.” Marcus turned seeing Jeuki who was standing opposite he grabbed the huge hunters arm feeling Jeuki take hold of his. “I’m so glad you made it out to Jeuki.” Jeuki clicked his lower mandibles. “Glad you made it as well.” He pulled back feeling Marcus let go. “We thought at first your locking on to our ship was something bad.” Lucy eased up her hand watching as the white haired elder came closer. “About that we are really sorry if we made you jump. We had trouble docking with you at first.”
Jeuki laughed slightly. “We gathered that.” Emma turned seeing the elder come to a stop behind her he leaned over looking at Lucy and Marcus curiously. Emma breathed in meeting Lucy gaze. “Please allow me to introduce the elder of our clan.” Erisoki watched in surprise as both of the oomans turned sharply they both slowly bowed to him. He looked at Jeuki. “They’re bowing to me?” Jeuki turned slightly. “Yes a sign of respect as you are the leader.” Erisoki pulled back. “What do I do back to show that I’m grateful for there respectful gesture?” Jeuki folded his arms looking at the two young bloods who where standing watching quietly. “Shake the ooman males hand then pat the ooman female’s shoulder.” Erisoki slowly leaned forward doing the gestures Jeuki had told him to do. He had no idea what the handshake was all about but he knew that Jeuki understood oomans better than anyone on board this ship. Lucy looked up swallowing as the elder put a huge hand on her shoulder squeezing gently. He was bigger than Jeuki.
He was almost nine foot tall, which surprised her, since the two younger hunters where smaller than Jeuki. Saying that though both where still far taller than ether her and Marcus. She watched as the elder took Marcus’s hand shaking slightly. She couldn’t really understand the elder’s expressions but she was sure he looked a little confused. How old was he? She had no idea how long Jeuki’s race lived for, but he had to be really old if the white dreadlocks and slightly white crest areas where anything to go by. The huge elder even had an over grown lower left tusk as well she wasn’t really sure if he’d made it grow that way or if it was to do with age setting in. She breathed in slightly slowly meeting his gaze as he turned to look at her. “We came here with a message for you from the Earth battle ship.” Erisoki pulled up his clawed hand. “What did she say?” Jeuki turned slightly. “They have a message for you.” Erisoki eased out his clawed hand. “Please tell them to begin.”
Marcus breathed in he could see Jeuki was speaking is his own language to the elder who was listening intensely. Jeuki turned slightly. “Please begun I’ll translate for him, he doesn’t under stand ooman speak very well.” Marcus watched as Emma turned calmly watching the situation. “A message was sent to you from the Sirun.” He breathed in listening as Jeuki clicked his mandibles talking to elder. He breathed in again. “We give you this hyper drive back as an act of good faith. As we believe that what has been taken from you should be returned.” He looked up slightly remembering the rest of Eddy Ida’s message. “We admire the hunter’s way and show you our respects as warriors.” He paused listening to Jeuki’s clicks as he slowly translated to the elder, he watched as the elder nodded saying something back. Jeuki turned slightly. “He understands your actions and approves of them. He knows that a group of very dishonourable oomans where mostly to blame for all this. He does not hold the rest responsible in anyway.”
Marcus breathed in. “I know this was not for us to say but I’ll say it, we deeply apologise for all the misery and pain your clan has been put through.” He stopped listening to Jeuki’s mandibles click as he slowly translated. Emma watched as the elder’s eyes widened as he was slowly told what Marcus’s last line was. Jeuki turned listening to Erisoki’s mandible clicks. He moved back looking at Marcus. “He say he’s grateful for your statement, he only wishes more oomans where like you.” He turned clicking his upper right mandible. “I have to agree with him on that one.” Marcus adjusted his classes. “I think what Oran did was disgusting.” Lucy grinned looking at the empty escape pod lying near by. “Yeah out of curiosity what ever happened to that disgusting bastard?” Emma leaned over slowly pulling out the served arm from the pod. “Lets just say he’s in a lot of agonizing pain which will last for the rest of his life since he’s going somewhere that makes hell look like a petting zoo.”
Lucy cringed looking at the served arm. “Geeze Emma that’s just nasty.” Emma looked at the arm. “You want proof he’s died don’t you?” Lucy slowly pulled the served arm out of her hand. “Ah, right I get it, this is the proof and we have to tell Eddy Ida and the rest of the Sirun that he’s died. How did he die out of interest?” Emma grinned widely. “Oh his pod hit the floor really hard.” She turned watching as Jeuki put his clawed foot through the pods class causing it to smash full force. Emma turned slightly. “Guts everywhere, such a terrible scene lets just say we where cleaning him up when you came on board.” Lucy smirked slightly. “I’ll be sure to pass that on.” Marcus leaned forward. “ So can we see him?” Jeuki looked up slightly. “No it’s forbidden for you to enter the trophy room. Marcus smiled slightly adjusting his glasses. “We understand still we could record a message for him on our note pad and send it yours. Amusing you do actuality have one and you weren’t being honest about it about it before this all happened.
Emma breathed in. “Your right I wasn’t honest about it, but I wasn’t sure who to trust.” Lucy put a hand on her shoulder. “Look we understand I mean with people like Leo, Julia and Lexington around I don’t blame you.” Marcus laughed looking at Jeuki. “I guess I was right, you could only use ours, because you knew how to use Emma’s.” Jeuki nodded calmly. “Emma asked that I not tell any off you, I respected her wishes.” Emma smirked “I’ll make sure Oran sees your message, believe me.” Lucy laughed slightly. “Oh I know you will, you hate him as much as we do.” She looked up slightly. “ Emma raised an eyebrow. “He’s a coward.” Jeuki leaned down slightly. “A coward who going to suffer so much before he dies.”
8
Eddy leaned back in the chair. “I really wish I knew what was taking so long.” He watched as the Bishop android turned slightly. “This is such a delicate time General sir. I think its just taking time, I mean Oran did do very bad things and I’m sure the wounds run deep on both sides.” Eddy raised an eyebrow.” To deep if you ask me.” He sighed aloud. “One race shouldn’t treat another like animals full stop. Despite that Jeuki’s race are hunters they are very intelligent beings.” The Bishop android turned slightly. “Few that I know would look at them in that way, they are known for hunting us.” Eddy breathed in deeply. “Considering what men like Oran try to do to them I’m not surprised that they hunt us.” Bishop looked up slightly. “This whole event could’ve started a terrible war.” Eddy felt his grip on the chair tighten. “It still could, if our act is looked at with disgust.” He leaned forward looking at the screen which had the two ships docked together. “I mean it when I say we aren’t ready for war with the Yautja their technology far advances ours.”
He breathed in slowly. “Plus when I look at that ship and its incredible power which could spilt our ship down the centre with its forward laser. I’m forced to ask myself if this is just a small hunter vessel what kind of fire power is on their version of a battle cruiser?” He calmly put both hands together. “I consider myself a realistic thinker and frankly I don’t like those odds.” Bishop turned sharply. “I’m am sure that your friends will come through for you.” Eddy slowly looked at the screen again he could see the nervousness on everyone’s face. “I really hope they do for all our sakes.” He
slowly sat back in the chair grabbing the chair arm tighter. Every part of him wanted this to end it was nerve wrecking.
8
Emma pulled her pad up watching Lucy’s and Marcus’s fleshly-recorded message download to it. She smiled trying not to laugh. “That’s almost like what I said to him but I couldn’t have put it better myself.” Jeuki tapped his lower mandibles. “Oomans really do know how to rub salt in the dishonoured wounds when beaten.” Lucy smirked watching Emma put the note pad in her belt. She could see one of the younger hunters was looking at it with curiosity and a deep interest. “I guess its part of what makes us human okay its not a great thing but its who we are.” Jeuki tapped his upper right mandible. “I find it very interesting personally.” Emma turned slightly. “I’m curious your drop ship seems to have some interesting changes.” Marcus breathed in sharply. “Yes I wanted to talk to you about that as I feel we have a dilemma on our hands in terms of the converted drop ship.” Emma raised an eyebrow. “Please explain.” She felt Jeuki put both arms around her shoulders.
Marcus pushed up his glasses. “We know that your race is not happy about humans possessing your hyper drives.” He breathed in deeply. “We have one installed on our vessel.” Lucy slowly raised her hand. “Trust me when I say this we have no intention of going back to earth or selling the ship.” Marcus looked up slightly. “Yes I remember you saying something about exploring the galaxy.” Lucy turned sharply. “ I…did… say that.” Marcus pulled her closer. “Well I’d like to go with Lucy’s dream and use the drop ship to explore the galaxy. No one will ever find us and no one will ever know about it. I mean to everyone else it’s just a drop ship with no real special qualities.” Lucy looked up slightly. “He’s right no one thinks it’s anything special apart from Eddy Ida, and he won’t tell anyone.” Jeuki put a hand under his chin. “I have a better idea.” He slowly moved over to the draws pulling one open. “All over the galaxy the Yautja have scouts, who do many jobs. These scouts ensure the stability of clans among other things. They play a very important role.” He slowly pulled out an old peace of metal with the clan’s symbol.
He slowly passed it to Marcus. “Paint this symbol on your ship it will ensure that no other Yautja vessel ever attacks you. As you’ll be seen as a scout for the Tosuji clan.” He slowly raised a clawed hand. “We ask that you scout for worlds which we could use as hunting grounds. As well as telling us if anyone like Oran returns.” He slowly turned clicking his mandibles as he told Erisoki what he was doing he watched the elder calmly nod in agreement. Emma pulled a draw open tossing Lucy a small device. “This is the Yautja version of a message sender, I was playing with it not long ago and managed to change the language to English so I could use it.” Marcus grinned slightly. “Was that intentional?” Emma shrugged slightly. “I had a lot of time on my hands when I was in space. Gave me time to really try out new things.” Lucy slowly put the device in her lab coat pocket. “Please tell your leader that if we fail you, he has every right to turn as in trophies with out question.”
She watched as Jeuki calmly spoke to the elder who looked at them both with utter surprise. Emma took a slow step forward. “No one must ever know about your mission or your link to our clan. Not even Eddy Ida can be told about this, you can send your first message to us as soon as you leave the Sirun so we know you’ve begun your mission.” She stopped for a moment before looking up. “If you are in any trouble and you need help go to the Eros mining colony and find Ian Wingates. I know my brother will help you if he knows your friends of mine.” Marcus looked at the symbol. “Well I’m in full agreement of this.” Lucy nodded slowly. “Me to I’ll do this for the Tosuji clan no questions asked.” Jeuki took a step forward putting a hand on Marcus’s shoulder. “Then it is your honourable task, honour us well by you carrying it out.” Lucy looked at him. “We owe the Tosuji clan something as a repayment for the suffering our people caused. If this is it then I will gladly do it.” Jeuki looked at Emma who was smiling. “Then so be it.”
CHAPTER 29
GLORY AND HONOUR IN THE HEART OF SPACE
Location somewhere in the galaxy aboard our ship getting everything ready for the drop ships departure.
I’ve come to treasure goodbyes; goodbyes are very meaningful to me nowadays. I guess this has come about through the fact that I never got to say goodbye when every one around me died on Callisto. I guess it one of the things of come to really love. Because I get to the person’s face and know that I might see them again someday. I wish that I could’ve said goodbye to Charlotte and David even if at the end I did dislike David’s actions. A goodbye would have still meant something I was just too angry at the time. I was thinking in a manner that was all about credits and job standing. In the big scheme of things none of it really mattered my friends where more important. I mean even if David had sold of the breathing device it wouldn’t have mattered. For me there could have been other jobs and other projects. I guess because I was just being as greedy as he was I just didn’t see it that way which is not something I’m proud of even to this day. I should’ve thought of the good times.
I should’ve remembered the friendly drinks and the conversations and the photo I took when we where all slightly off our face. I mean we where drinking alcohol in mugs and pretending that it was just coffee so we wouldn’t get in to trouble. We all had such a crazy time and made complete idiots of ourselves but it was great day none the less. I can’t believe I forgot it, it seems so sad now that I think about the fact that did that. I guess I was too afraid to look back and to afraid to face who I was. I just saw myself as cowardly. Deep down I think I was very cowardly still the difference is I know that now it couldn’t be avoided. I guess to grow as a person I had to see the side of myself I didn’t like. I still wish I could’ve hugged Charlotte one last time and shook David’s hand on a job well done. Still I know I can’t do that which is why I only hope that they found peace in their afterlife, I think both deserve that. The good thing is that standing on the ship watching Lucy and Marcus move the broken escape pod through the gravity field.
I know that one-day maybe not soon, maybe not this year or the next but soon I’ll probably get to see them again. Jeuki’s proposition for them to be scouts has gone down well with the elder, which really surprises me. I didn’t think he’d agree to such a thing, I would’ve thought knowing one human would be enough for him. May be he’s got an idea in his head or maybe them bringing back the hyper drive really impressed him. I know Lucy and Marcus aren’t honoured prey so it all seems a little strange to me. I guess I’ll just have to just sit back and find out the answers later on, when the time is right. Myself and Jeuki have recorded a message for Eddy Ida. We hope it will get though okay. I guess I’m just going to have to hold my breath for the next few weeks I have no idea where we are going after dropping off Oran and Oni Jui. For the first time in ages I feel a sense of freshness in my life. I mean I’m Jeuki’s partner now and I know things will be different. We’ll be happier on so many different levels.
I think everything will okay from here on in I’m positive about how I feel. I haven’t felt this positive in a long time I really like this feeling. I just hope that everything goes well for Lucy and Marcus. I also hope that when they explore this vast galaxy that they find what there looking for. I really want what ever it is they need to find to be out there. Emma turned slightly watching as Marcus came through the gravity field closely followed by Lucy. She breathed in before taking a step forward. “Is everything okay?” Lucy tapped her foot slightly. “Well we’ve got the pod inside and the severed arm. Everything should be fine for a trip back in to the Sirun’s docking bay.” Marcus put a hand on her shoulder. “Everything will be fine we know what we have to do.” Emma felt him let go she took a slow step forward. “I’m going to really miss you two.” Jeuki moved from his standing position behind her. “I will miss you both, you’re both very honourable oomans who never did any wrong to my self or Emma.”
Lucy felt him
put both clawed hands on her shoulders. “You have no idea how much we’ll miss you both, we both leant a lot from you two.” Marcus pushed up his glasses. “Yeah Lucy’s right we learnt a hell of a lot from you two, you opened our eyes to things we’d been very blind to.” Jeuki pulled up a clawed hand putting in Emma’s back plating. He tapped his upper right mandible. “Well I learnt a lot about oomans from you two that I didn’t know.” He pulled Emma slightly closer. “For that I’m very grateful.” Marcus pulled up a hand feeling Jeuki’s takes his in a strong shake. “Glad to be off help.” Lucy breathed in deeply. “I really hope we see you both again soon.” She raised her eyebrow. “You take care of Emma won’t you?” Jeuki nodded slightly. “Of course I will.” Lucy smirked slightly. “I know you will but I thought it best to say it anyway.” Jeuki put a clawed hand on his chest plate. “I understand, I hope you take care of Marcus, trust me when you’re alone in space the person closest to you means a lot.”
Marcus put up a hand. “I guess you know that better than anyone.” Emma leaned over giving him a light hug. “We both know it, when you’re in space you need someone around to look out for you.” She pulled away before pulling Lucy in to a hug. “Take care both of you and safe travels where ever you go.” Lucy hugged tighter. “Yeah same to the both of you.” Emma let go watching as Lucy and Marcus both moved away they both stepped through the gravity field, which caused them to float slightly. She watched as Marcus pushed the broken escape pod down. Which caused it to hit the floor hard as Lucy took the lowered anti-gravity off-line. Jeuki slowly pulled his clawed hand typing in to the panel. He stood in silence feeling Emma’s grip around his hand tighten as their huge space door slowly began to lift upwards. He moved back slightly pulling her in to a gentle hug. He watched as the door came up in what felt like slow motion he could see Lucy and Marcus waving slightly before the door slammed shut. He put his clawed hand through Emma’s hair he was going to miss them as much as she was.